City's Recall Effort Spurs Fiery Debate

As Winter Garden's Voting Day Nears, Rivals Face Off In Public And In The Courtroom.

March 4, 2005|By Sandra Mathers, Sentinel Staff Writer

WINTER GARDEN -- Just days before city voters go to the polls, the effort to recall Commissioner Bill Thompson is heating up.

Factions on both sides are squaring off -- in court and in the community, including a loud argument in front of a Publix grocery store.

Thompson supporters are awaiting a district-court ruling on the merits of the allegation against him -- that he violated Florida's "Government in the Sunshine" laws.

In the meantime, they are asking the court to stop Tuesday's recall election until that issue is settled.

Thompson has denied the accusation. His appeal asserts that the recall law takes away his right to respond to an unspecific and damaging allegation.

A Circuit Court judge in Orlando ruled against that argument in December. However, an expedited ruling from the appeals court is expected before Tuesday's election, said Thompson's attorney, Allen Watts of DeLand.

Meanwhile, Thompson's critics are handing out "Recall Thompson" fliers and erecting campaign signs. And both sides are arguing publicly.

The ongoing political fray has even attracted some big-name sparring partners: Ax the Tax leader Doug Guetzloe and Orange County citrus baron and retired developer Jerry Chicone Jr.

Guetzloe is an unpaid consultant for the Recall Thompson Committee. Chicone of Orlando, a Winter Garden native and downtown property owner, contributed $250 to the Committee to Retain Bill Thompson.

On Saturday, the two factions argued in front of the Winter Garden Publix, where recall supporters were distributing campaign and recall literature.

Chicone arrived at the supermarket accompanied by Ward Britt, president of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, and Commissioner John Harriman, who is running against recall proponent Carol Nichols in Tuesday's election.

Chicone protested loudly that the pro-recall group was violating a store policy that he said requires all political candidates to be represented in campaign appearances on store property, observers said.

Store manager Ronnie Brassell said he gave recall advocates advance permission to set up their table at the store. He said that after Chicone approached him, he also offered Chicone's group the same opportunity, but Chicone declined.

Brassell said he eventually ordered both groups off the property to avoid disturbing shoppers.

"He asked all of us to leave," said Andy Bruns, who helped collect signatures to put the recall issue on the ballot. But Guetzloe said he drove to the store after learning of the incident and persuaded the manager to allow the recall group to remain.

Publix corporate spokesman Dwaine Stevens said the supermarket prohibits all political activity on store property.

Chicone could not be reached.

Harriman said he accompanied Chicone and Britt to see what was going on but did not participate in the dialogue. Britt said he went to Publix to support Thompson, a personal friend.

"I think it's [the recall] an attempt to take over the votes of the City Commission," Britt said of the Publix incident. "I think the plan is to get rid of the city manager and the mayor over Trailer City."

No one is challenging Mayor Jack Quesinberry, whose term expires next year.

But recall supporters don't deny Britt's allegation. They have said they have the right to vote out commissioners who didn't heed the wishes of their constituents -- in this case, residents of Trailer City who have battled for nearly a year to keep the city-owned park open.

The move to recall Thompson, whose term also expires next year, dovetails with Nichols' campaign to unseat Harriman, who is running for re-election Tuesday.

If she wins, Nichols, vice president of the Trailer City Home Owners Association, would eliminate another commissioner perceived as unfriendly to Trailer City.

Harriman said recently he does not favor closing the park.

But he voted with Thompson and Quesinberry last year to close the park by 2012, citing fire-code violations. After protest from the community, commissioners approved a plan to reduce the number of mobile homes in the park by half within five years and assess the park again at that time.

But leery park residents say the city's objective is still to close the park, just more quickly. They are certain the city wants to develop the prime lakefront property now occupied by more than 100 mobile homes.

"It's all about development," said Bruns, a Trailer City resident. "It all boils down to, you've got to have something to develop."